Specialized Information and Referral

Specialized Information and Referral ( Disabilities Issues )

Provider: EASTERN LOS ANGELES REGIONAL CENTER FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INC

The center provides services for people of all ages with developmental disabilities and their families who live in the Alhambra, East Los Angeles, Northeast and Whittier Health Districts of Los Angeles County. To be eligible for service, individuals must have a developmental disability which began before their 18th birthday, be expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability. The disability must be due to autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation or a disabling condition closely related to mental retardation or requiring similar treatment. Infants and toddlers at risk of having a developmental disability or who have a developmental delay, and individuals who are at risk of having a child with a developmental disability may also qualify for services. The center does not serve individuals with disabling conditions that are solely physical in nature. Geographic and other restrictions apply.

Services include advocacy, assessment and diagnosis, case management, community education, disability counseling, early intervention for at-risk infants, genetic counseling, family support, outreach, out-of-home placement and monitoring, purchase of services, and training. Clients are eligible to receive life-long services; they may be referred to contracting agencies for some services.

Medi-Cal eligible youth, 0 to 18 years of age, may receive developmental assessment services and behavior modification therapy through the CHDP program.

The center's direct client services include case management; advocacy, to educate clients about their legal rights; court-ordered evaluations; counseling; and developmental, medical and psychological assessment. The center purchases supportive services from contracting agencies for clients who could not otherwise afford them. Support services for families include counseling and support groups; assistance with guardianship and conservatorship arrangements; and referrals for respite care and other resources such as support groups for parents of developmentally disabled children. Clients are referred to contracting agencies for specialized services such as activity centers; independent living skills instruction; behavioral, speech and occupational therapy; out-of-home care; and sheltered workshops.

The Early Start Program provides early intervention services for children, age 3 and younger, who have special needs. Eligible children include high risk infants presenting with developmental delay or have an established diagnosis, or who show a delay in cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing. If under 24 months at the time of referral, these children must show a 33% delay in one or more areas of development. If over 24 months at the time of referral, these children must show a 50% delay in one area of development or a 33% delay in two or more areas of development. This may include infants who were born prematurely or with low birth weight, and those who have congenital abnormalities, respiratory problems, seizures, failure to thrive, muscle-tone problems or who were prenatally-exposed to alcohol or drugs.

Other early start services include genetic counseling and diagnostic services for people who may be at risk of becoming developmentally disabled or who are at risk of giving birth to a developmentally disabled child. To be eligible for testing a woman must have applied for and been denied Medi-Cal benefits and must fall into one of the following risk categories: mothers who will be age 35 or older at the time of delivery; who have chronic conditions or have been exposed to teratogens during pregnancy; or mothers who have a history of miscarriages, stillbirths or a family history of birth defects of mental retardation.

The center provides lifelong individualized planning and service coordination for children age three and older who have a developmental disability resulting from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, mental retardation, or any other condition closely related to mental retardation that requires a similar treatment. Clients are linked with contracted community service providers.

The center provides outreach and community education by providing specialized information and referral about developmental disabilities and through publications and community presentations. It provides speakers to community groups and technical assistance for service providers who work with people with developmental disabilities. It also assists in the development, evaluation and monitoring of new and existing community-based resources. LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH Spanish-speaking staff are at both sites; staff who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are available at the Alhambra office. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Call for information on eligibility. Intake is done through the Alhambra office only. An appointment is required. FEES/PAYMENT SOURCE There are no fees for most services. There are state-mandated fees for center-sponsored out-of-home care for youth age 17 and younger; fees are set on a sliding scale.
Application Procedure
Languages
Chinese-Cantonese
Chinese-Mandarin
Spanish
Vietnamese
Service Condition Fee

Free

Free

Address

1000 S. Fremont

Alhambra , CA 90813 (Physical)

Get directions

P. O. Box 7916

Alhambra , CA 91802 (Mailing)

Website

www.elarc.org
Service hours
Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm.

Administrative

(626) 299-4700

FAX

(626) 281-1163

Service/Intake

(626) 299-4759 (Intake 3 yrs. +) (626) 299-4777 (Intake for under 3yrs) (626) 299-4709 (Early Start Coordinator)

TDD

(626) 299-4776

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